Lowering Expectations

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5051118.ece

Plans are drawn up to lower expectancy of presidency if Obama wins next week's election shows concern that supporters are harbouring unrealistic hopes of what he can achieve. With the sudden financial crisis and the prospect of deep recession, has increased the urgency to try to bring people back down to earth in which his campaign of "change" and "hope" are confronted with the reality of a stricken economy. Even Obama himself realizes that expectations risked being inflated.

With an interview for the Colorado radio station, Obama seemed to already engage in expectation lowering and needing more time to tackle the big and costly issues of health care reform, global warming, and Iraq. Although the first days are going to be crucial and it will be hard to achieve his goals, Obama reassures his crowd that it will take time to make a difference.
Obama's tranistion team has been spending months planing a smooth transition; they are under no illusions about the size of the challenges the Democrat will inherit.

The challenges aboard for the next president are immense; big things need to be achieved early to still have the political capital to achieve ambitious leglislative goals. Obama intends to have early priorities that include a mixture of symbolism and substance. These priorties include making a major address in a big Muslim country early in the term and to make early moves to rid America of the controversial prison. His first legislative goals will be to follow through on tax cuts for the middle class and to push through a hugely expensive Bill to provide health insurance.